BANGKOK — Rescue and charity teams continued recovery operations Monday after a powerful explosion from stored mining explosives killed at least 43 people, including children, in northeastern Myanmar’s Shan state near the Chinese border.
Authorities said more than a dozen groups used excavation machinery to search through debris in Kaungtup village, Namhkam township, following the midday blast on Sunday.
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which controls the area, said in a Monday statement that the death toll had reached 43, including seven children. Earlier estimates from rescue workers ranged from 38 to 45, with officials warning that the final number could still rise as recovery efforts continue.
The group also reported 112 injuries, including 25 children, with 37 people in critical condition. It said rescue operations and verification of casualties were still ongoing.
“Rescue operations and the compilation of casualty figures were still underway,” the TNLA said.
Determining the full extent of the casualties has been difficult because of the force of the explosion, which reportedly caused severe fragmentation of bodies.
The explosion involved gelignite used in mining and quarrying operations, according to the TNLA. While commonly used in extraction work, gelignite becomes increasingly unstable when improperly stored over time.
Residents of the 200-household village said they were not informed that explosives were being stored in the area.
An investigation into the cause of the blast is underway, the group added.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to Myanmar’s largely unregulated mining sector, particularly in conflict-affected areas controlled by ethnic armed groups.
Two local residents told The Associated Press that mines producing raw materials for silicon metal, used in semiconductors, solar panels, and aluminum alloys, operate in mountainous areas around 15 kilometers southwest of Namhkam town. They said the operations are jointly managed by the TNLA and Chinese business interests, although this could not be independently verified.
Myanmar is a major global source of minerals including rare earths, copper, tin, jade, and rubies, with much of the output exported to China for processing.
China maintains ties with Myanmar’s military-backed government while also engaging with ethnic armed groups operating along the border.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed condolences and confirmed that a Chinese national injured in the blast is receiving medical treatment. Beijing also said it is prepared to assist in response efforts.
The TNLA, part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, seized control of the Namhkam area in late 2023 during an offensive against Myanmar’s military government. The broader conflict escalated after the 2021 coup that ousted the elected administration of Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered widespread armed resistance.
Although the TNLA signed a China-mediated ceasefire with the military in late 2023, the region remains unstable, with mineral extraction continuing to serve as a key source of revenue for both government and armed groups.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
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